BEWARE! I

DENTITY

THEFT

CARL JOHNSON

FINANCIA

L LIT

ERACY

JENKS H

IGH C

SHOOL

KEY TERMS Federal Trade Commission (FTC)– A

federal agency that enforces consumer protection

Fraud – Someone who knowingly deceives you for their own personal gain

Identity Theft – Using a person’s name or personal information without the person’s permission to steal money or get other benefits

WHY ARE YOU A TARGET???? Young people are some of the most frequent

targets of identify theft and other scamsThey are targeted because of their limited experience in dealing with financial matters and therefore are easier to victimize

Identify theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world today, and is one of the most costly problems that consumers face

Consumers receive offers daily that sound too good to be trueThe internet and email are a major means of scams by con artists

SPAM EMAILS

WHY ARE YOU A TARGET???? Identify theft means that someone has used your

personal information without your permissionThis could be your name, social security number, credit card number or other pieces of information

They use this information to purchase all kinds of thingsThey get the goods, you get the bills!

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are about 9 million people in the U.S. yearly who have been victims of identity theft

This can cost lots of money to clear up, and as a result, your credit history and reputation suffer!

METHODS THAT ID THIEVES USE TO GET YOUR INFORMATION

Dumpster Diving – Rummaging through your trash looking for your personal information

Skimming – Stealing your credit/debit card numbers with a special device when processing your card

Phishing – Pretending to be banks, the IRS or some other organization, they send you letters or email asking you for your personal information

Changing Your Address – Scammers complete a change of address card for you so they can receive your billing statements. Once they have the statements, they are able to access your accounts

DUMPSTER DIVING

SKIMMING DEVICE

METHODS THAT ID THIEVES USE TO GET YOUR INFORMATION

Stealing – They steal your wallet, purse or even the mail out of your mailbox – anything with your personal information

Statements (Bank or Credit Cards) Preapproved Credit Offers New Checks Tax Information

Pretexting – Pretending to be you, scammers use false information to get your personal information from financial institutions, utility companies and other sources

Hacking – They hack into your computer or other computers that maintain your personal information

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BEING A VICTIM

The best way to protect yourself from ID theft is to monitor your billing statements and bank statements each monthAlso check your credit report regularlyBy regularly checking your accounts, you can limit the damage caused by identity theft

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…

Use passwords on all credit cards, bank and cell phone accounts…Avoid common passwords – Use a combination of letters and numbers

Keep all personal information in a secure place, such a small safe or lock box

Only use secure web sites for entering in personal information

Shred all papers with personal information on them before throwing into the trash

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…

Never give out personal information on the phone unless you have initiated the contact…Anyone who should need your information already has it!

Avoid clicking on links from emails or clicking on websites unless you are certain it is a valid link – It may be a scam for your information

Place your outgoing mail in a postal mail drop box or take to a post office, especially if mailing checks or other personal information. If you are going on a trip, have the postal service hold all your mail until you return home

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…

Leave your Social Security card in a safe place – This does not include your wallet or purse

Do not use your Social Security number as an ID number or give out your Social Security number

Carry only the personal identification and credit cards that you will actually need when you go out

SAFETY MEASURES TO CONSIDER…

Avoid responding to promotions. Identity thieves create fake promotional offers to get your personal information

Keep you purse or billfold in a safe place at school or work. Pick up orders of new checks at the bank, instead of mailing them to your home

Monitor your credit history on a regular basis by ordering a copy of your credit report from the three primary credit bureaus. Because you can get a free report annually, you might order one report from each agency every four months, instead of ordering all three at one time

IF YOU ARE A VICTIM… If you become a victim of identity theft, let your parents know and also contact your local law enforcement immediately You complaint is an essential resource for law enforcement, as they will use your information to build their cases against whoever victimized you, as well as spot trends against these criminals

Contact the fraud division of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax/Experian/TransUnion), explain that you have been a victim of identity theft and ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit file

Contact all credit card companies or issuers of all credit that has been affected. Follow up with a letter and a copy of the police complaint

File a compliant with the Federal Trade Commission